Wash-board



(No Model.)

' J. MYERS.

. WASH 305m. No. 256,915. PatentedApLZ, 1882.

WITNBSSES: INYBNTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

N. Pneus. munhhoswhon wamingim D. c.

I e UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN MYERS, OFi PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WASH-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,915, dated April 25, 1882. Application filed August Q3. 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN MYERS, of Philadelphia, in the county ot Philadelphia and State ot Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wash-Boards, ot' which the followingr is a full, clear, and exact descriptiomreference being had to the an neXed drawings, forming part ot' this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a frontelevaton of the improved wasl1-board; Fig. 2, a rear elevation of the same, showing the manner ot securing the parts together; and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views. Fig. 5 is a partial view ot' one of the slats, showing an eye for receiving the rubber band; and Fig. 6 is an end view ot' one of the slats anda portion of the frame, showing an arrangement of spiral springs, the two last figures being modilications.

My invention consists in a frame having a series of vertically-pivoted slats, which are arranged and adapted to operate in the manner hereinafter described.

The'frame A of the board is of the usual construction, save that the top and bottom cross-pieces, a a, are provided with suitable bearings for the pivots or spindles of the slats or sections b, which bearings 'are preferably formed with lateral openings leading thereto, so that the sections may be placed in position without taking the frame apart. Strips a a/ are then placed over the said openings and secured to the crosspieces by screws.

The sections b consist ot' wooden slats covered with corrugated metal, but may also be made entirely of wood or meta-l, or'any other suitable material, provided with spindles c at the ends, by means of which they are to be made to oscillate. The sections are provided with a lateral opening, d, by means ot' which they are strung upon a rubber band, which passes through the sides ot the frame, and is secured in any suitable manner to the frame, so as to be held taut, and thus yieldingly support the slats in one and the same plane.

In case the slats should not be designed for use upon both sides, thc/'openings may be omitted and suitable eyes be provided upon the rear surface thereof', and a rubber cord or band passed through the eyes and secured to the frame, as above described.

In covering the slats with corrugated or struck-up metal, Iprovide the wooden slat with a longitudinal vgroove formed in the centei1 ofeaeh edge, then strike up the sheet metal so as to correspond in size and shape with tlanges to fit into the grooves, and pass it over the slat endwise. A strip of metal is thus secured to each side ot'the slat, the same grooves heilig used for receiving and holding the flanges of each strip of metal. Suitable brads or wedges are then inserted into the grooves between the flanges ot' each strip ot' metal for holding the said parts together. Where both sides of a slat are covered with metal the opening for the rubber-band is formed by deepening the grooves at a given point until they meet, and then, to avoid the cutting ot the rubber, the metal is to be. cutaway around the said opening.

. By having the wash-board open on both sides and both sides ot' the sections corrugated or covered with suitable metal, the board is adapted to be used on either side, and thus will last twice as long as a board which is not reversible.

l do not limit myselfl to the precise form of board above described, since the saine may be variously modified without departing from the main principle. For instance, the sections may be variously corrugated-vertically, diagonally, or otherwise-and springs of different kinds may be used. Metal sprin gs may be arranged at the ends of the oscillating sections, and the sections may be made larger or smaller. Fig. 6 shows an arrangement of spiral springs at the end ot one of the slats, the end of the Slat .being recessed on opposite sides to form two chambers in connection with the recessed supporting-strips, in which the springs are located so as to be adapted to yield alternately under the oscillation of the pivoted slats. With this arrangement the rubber band upon which the slats are strung is to be dispensed with.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 4 l. A wash-board consisting in a frame having a series of vertically-pivoted slats, which are held in a common plane by springs and adapted to be oscillated under pressure, substantially as shown and described.

2. A Wash-board consisting of e frame having a serios of vertioally-piroted slats, `which are strung upon a rubber band, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In :L Wash-board, the colnbinution,\\ith a suitable frame, of a serios of vertically-pivoted slats and u rubber bund or cord which is secured to the frame, and upon which the slats are strung, substantially as shown and des"ribed.

4. In a wash-board, thecombiuation of frame A, having its top and bottom cross-pieces, a ci, provided with bearings for the spindles of' the sections, the strips a a, for holding the spin' dles in said bearings, the'sectionsb, consisting of wooden slats having spindles at their ends and a longitudinal groove in each lateral ed ge and openings d, and which are covered with .strigs of' corrugated metal struck up to t thc slats on opposite sides thereof, und the rubber band which passes through the sections and is secured to opposite sides of the frame, substantially as shown and described.

JOHN MYERS. Witnesses:

A. G. LYNE, SoLoN U. KEMON. 

